‘Mormon’ books cast, designers

Gad, James among actors to appear in musical

Josh Gad, Nikki M. James and Andrew Rannells are among the thesps to have booked roles in upcoming Broadway tuner “The Book of Mormon.”

Gad (“The Daily Show,” “Love and Other Drugs”) and Rannells, who has had stints in “Jersey Boys” and “Hairspray,” will play the central pair of Mormon missionaries in the new musical penned by “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and “Avenue Q” songwriter Robert Lopez.

Cast does not include a big-name musical star along the lines of Nathan Lane (“The Addams Family”); instead, the production can count on the “South Park” connection and the controversy-baiting title to attract attention. (Legiters who have seen developmental perfs of the show already are wondering how much of a stir the boundary-pushing humor will cause.)

Design team for the show includes Scott Pask (sets), Ann Roth (costumes), Brian MacDevitt (lights) and Brian Ronan (sound).

Casey Nicholaw, currently repped on Broadway with the holiday production “Elf,” choreographs “Mormon” and co-directs with Parker.

Produced by Scott Rudin and Anne Garefino, “Mormon” begins previews Feb. 24 ahead of a March 24 opening at the O’Neill Theater.